India-Myanmar ties: PM Modi urges ‘fair and inclusive’ elections in meeting with Junta Chief
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Myanmar’s military ruler Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on August 31, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China. During the meeting, Modi expressed hope that the upcoming elections in Myanmar would be conducted in a “fair and inclusive” manner involving all stakeholders.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi reiterated India’s support for a “Myanmar-led and Myanmar-owned peace process,” emphasising that dialogue and consultation are the only viable path toward stability. The two leaders also reviewed bilateral ties and discussed cooperation in areas such as development partnership, defence and security, border management, and connectivity projects under India’s Act East policy.
Foreign secretary Vikram Misri told reporters that Modi welcomed Myanmar’s election announcement and underlined that dialogue was key to fostering peace. However, Myanmar’s state-run media claimed India had agreed to send election observers and support Myanmar’s SCO membership bid, claims not reflected in the MEA’s statement.
Rights groups condemned Modi’s outreach, saying it risked legitimising the junta, which seized power in 2021 by toppling Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. Justice For Myanmar spokesperson Yadanar Maung accused India of “propping up a criminal junta” and warned that sending observers could grant credibility to what it described as a “sham electoral process.”
The planned elections, scheduled to begin in phases from December 28, have drawn criticism for excluding Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). Hlaing has threatened punitive action against critics of the polls, further deepening doubts about their legitimacy.
Modi’s meeting with the Myanmar military chief follows his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin, his first visit to China in seven years, as India navigates regional diplomacy aimed at balancing China’s influence in Southeast Asia.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and I held talks in Tianjin. Myanmar is a vital pillar of India’s Act East and Neighbourhood First Policies. We both agreed that there is immense scope to boost ties in areas like trade, connectivity, energy, rare earth mining and security. pic.twitter.com/Sxs32TsiTK
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 31, 2025
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National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
